Some specialized US federal agencies, especially those regulating large financial markets, offer strikingly higher median pay than larger public departments.
Key Facts
– Overall median pay for the federal workforce stands around $99,000 a year.
– At the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), median pay can reach $247,518, among the highest in government.
– The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) also pays employees above $200,000 in median salary.
– The Department of Veterans Affairs, which employs nearly half a million people, has one of the lower median salaries.
– Despite elite pay in specific agencies, federal workers with advanced degrees often still earn less than their private-sector peers.
The Rest of The Story
Agencies like the CFTC manage markets with trillions of dollars in notional value.
They hire experts—often lawyers, economists, and auditors—who might otherwise pursue careers with top banks or investment firms.
This competitive environment pushes public regulators to pay more.
On the other hand, sprawling government entities such as Veterans Affairs tend to have a broad range of roles, from healthcare providers to administrators.
This diversity in job functions pulls the overall median salary lower.
Similarly, the Department of the Treasury houses many positions—like tax examiners—whose average pay is well below that of top-level economists or attorneys.
Questions remain regarding how the new administration’s potential budget cuts could reshape federal pay scales and staffing.
While some see high salaries as necessary to attract top-tier talent, others argue that certain salaries remain too low to retain experienced professionals in high-cost-of-living areas.
Remember: government spending is a tax on every American
“Keep your eye on one thing and one thing only: how much government is spending, because that’s the true tax…. If you’re not paying for it in the form of explicit taxes, you’re paying for it indirectly in the form of… https://t.co/2ERd5VIYKK pic.twitter.com/JZ8shd6k2i
— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) December 21, 2024
The Bottom Line
Pay within the federal government varies widely, with the highest compensation going to those regulating major financial markets or tackling specialized responsibilities.
Whether future reforms to rein in spending or reorganize departments will affect these top-tier salaries is uncertain.
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For now, smaller agencies handling complex financial oversight continue to lead federal compensation charts.